Assad Denies Rumors About Russia Intention to Build Second Airbase in Syria

© AP Photo / Pavlos VrionidesA ground crewman directs a Royal Air Force Tornado along the tarmac of a British air base in Akrotiri, Cyprus, after returning from an airstrike against Islamic State group targets in Syria Thursday, Dec. 3, 2015
A ground crewman directs a Royal Air Force Tornado along the tarmac of a British air base in Akrotiri, Cyprus, after returning from an airstrike against Islamic State group targets in Syria Thursday, Dec. 3, 2015 - Sputnik International
Subscribe
Syrian President Bashar Assad has denied on Friday reports about Russia's intention to build a second airbase in Syria.

MADRID (Sputnik) — A number of Western media outlets reported last week that Russia was planning to set up additional airbase in Syria. On December 9, the Russian Defense Ministry denied the reports.

In this Thursday, Dec, 10, 2015 photo Abdulaziz bin Saqr, center, Chairman of the Gulf Research Council, speaks as Louay Safi, right, spokesperson for the Syrian National Coalition, and Hind Kabawat, left, a member of the elected committee that will negotiate with the Syrian regime, listen during a press conference after a three-day meeting of Syrian opposition groups in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia - Sputnik International
Assad Has No Use for Opposition Groups Who Use Foreign Support as a Crutch

"It is not true. If there was [intention to build the base], they would have announced it. And we would have announced it at the same time," Assad said in an interview to Spanish EFE news agency.

Assad added that Iran also had no plans to build military bases in Syria.

19, 2014, file photo, which has been verified and is consistent with other AP reporting, shows Islamic State group policemen standing guard in front of a police station in Nineveh province, Iraq - Sputnik International
Daesh: 'Islamic State' or International Criminal Organization of Thieves?

Syria has been in a state of civil war since 2011, with the country’s government fighting a number of opposition factions and radical Islamist groups, including the Islamic State (ISIL or Daesh in the Arab world) and the al-Nusra Front.

Russia, which has outlawed and designated the ISIL as a terrorist organization, has been conducting airstrikes against the group's positions in Syria since September 30, following a request from Assad.

Newsfeed
0
To participate in the discussion
log in or register
loader
Chats
Заголовок открываемого материала